Bidder monitoring tool for integrated auction and product ordering system
A monitoring tool that permits a buyer to search for and participate in auctions conducted on a website of the buyer's vendor. The monitoring tool provides a navigation frame having entries therein that represent predetermined searches across both the enterprise auction system and the enterprise product ordering and fulfillment system. The monitoring tool also provides a product description frame that provides summary records of auctions that are relevant to a selected view. By selecting among the navigation entries, a bidder is able to navigate quickly and accurately to auction information that is most relevant to his operations.
1 . An integrated enterprise network comprising:
an auction management application and database therefore, the auction database storing records representing auctions of the enterprise,
a product ordering and fulfillment application and database therefore, the product ordering and fulfillment database storing records representing customer purchases,
an auction monitoring tool, comprising: a navigation frame presenting a plurality of monitoring views, each view corresponding to a search among one or more of the auction management database records and the product ordering and fulfillment database records, and
a search tool, responsive to operator selection of a monitoring view, to execute the corresponding search among the auction management database records and/or the product ordering and fulfillment database records and generate a results page representing search results obtained therefrom.
2 . The network of claim 1 , wherein one of the monitoring view comprises active auctions in which a user has placed a bid, the corresponding search causing a search of a prior bid history of the user and the auction records.
3 . The network of claim 2 , wherein the view of active auctions in which a user has placed a bid is the first of any auction views to be displayed.
4 . The network of claim 1 , wherein one of the monitoring views comprises active auctions the user has viewed in a detailed view, the corresponding search causing a search of a prior view history of the user and the auction records.
5 . The network of claim 1 , wherein one of the monitoring view comprises auctions that include products a user has purchased via the product ordering and fulfillment application, the corresponding search causing a search of the user's prior purchase history and the auction records.
6 . The network of claim 1 , wherein one of the monitoring view comprises auctions in which a user has placed a bid but lost the auction, the corresponding search causing a search of a prior bid history and records of closed auctions.
7 . An auction monitoring method, comprising:
displaying a navigation frame representing a plurality of auction monitoring views available to a user, each auction monitoring view corresponding to a search among records of one of an auction application or a product ordering and fulfillment application,
displaying a product description frame representing auction record data responsive to a selected auction monitoring view,
when a monitoring view is selected, executing the corresponding search among records of the auction application and/or the product ordering and fulfillment application, and
populating the product description frame with summary views of auction records responsive to the search.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the monitoring views comprises active auctions in which a user has placed a bid and the corresponding search causes a search of a prior bid history of the user and the auction records.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the view of active auctions in which a user has placed a bid is the first of any auction views to be displayed.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the monitoring views comprises active auctions the user has viewed in a detailed view and the corresponding search causes a search of a prior view history of the user and the auction records.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the monitoring views comprises auctions that include products a user has purchased via the product ordering and fulfillment application and the corresponding search causes a search of the user's prior purchase history and the auction records.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the monitoring views comprises auctions in which a user has placed a bid but lost the auction and the corresponding search causes a search of a prior bid history and records of closed auctions.
13 . Computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon that define:
an auction management application to conduct auctions on an automated basis and develop auction records representing them,
a product ordering and fulfillment application to manage customer orders and develop product records representing them,
an auction monitoring tool, comprising:
a navigation frame presenting a plurality of monitoring views, each view corresponding to a search among one or more of the auction management database records and the product ordering and fulfillment database records, and
a detailed record view,
a search tool, responsive to operator selection of a monitoring view, to execute the corresponding search among the auction management database records and/or the product ordering and fulfillment database records and generate a results page representing search results obtained therefrom.
14 . The medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the monitoring view comprises active auctions in which a user has placed a bid, the corresponding search causing a search of a prior bid history of the user and the auction records.
15 . The medium of claim 14 , wherein the view of active auctions in which a user has placed a bid is the first of any auction views to be displayed.
16 . The medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the monitoring views comprises active auctions the user has viewed in a detailed view, the corresponding search causing a search of a prior view history of the user and the auction records.
17 . The medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the monitoring view comprises auctions that include products a user has purchased via the product ordering and fulfillment application, the corresponding search causing a search of the user's prior purchase history and the auction records.
18 . The medium of claim 13 , wherein one of the monitoring view comprises auctions in which a user has placed a bid but lost the auction, the corresponding search causing a search of a prior bid history and records of closed auctions.